If you needed a Salad Shooter, baby swing, bird house or old tools, you were in luck Friday if you stopped by the Wilson County Fairgrounds.

Around two dozen vendors set up temporary shop on the midway for the 301 Endless Yard Sale, which stretches from Roanoke Rapids to Dunn.

Vendors will be back at it Saturday, selling items from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at locations all up and down the 100-mile stretch of highway.

At mid-morning Friday, cars were steady in and out of the fairgrounds as people looked through merchandise.

Linda Erwin of Roanoke Rapids started shopping early Friday and made her way down U.S. 301 where yard sales were set up randomly at homes and businesses.

She had purchased a flag pole for her porch and was looking for books.

Vendors were pleased with the turnout.

"It’s going good,” said Sandra Artis. She and her husband, Wayne, were selling fragrances, jewelry and wreaths. They have a flower shop in Scotland Neck but decided to bring their merchandise to Wilson for a different customer base.

Theresa Vester of Rocky Mount was having her yard sale at the fairgrounds. She had cleaned out, she said.

Vester said traffic had been better at the fairgrounds than it would have been at her home.

Vendor Alan Boykin of Wilson was also happy with the turnout at his booth, where he was selling a lot of memorabilia items including vinyl records and glassware.

Many of the vendors were situated under tents to keep out of the hot sun. Some were selling water or lemonade along the route.

At the fairgrounds, Heart to Heart Home Health of Tarboro was setting up to sell ribs and chicken.

Up and down 301 individuals were luring people off the road for the chance to buy antiques, baby clothes, household goods, Christmas decorations and so much more.

In Lucama, around 20 vendors were busy with customers pulling over to shop. Vendor Sandra Carter, who helped coordinate the Lucama sites, said traffic was good.

"It’s been steady all day,” she said. "I’ve done pretty well.” She planned to go home Friday night and find more stuff to sell Saturday.

This is the second year for the 301 Endless Yard Sale. Last year’s event was in Johnston County only.

Donna Bailey-Taylor, executive director of the organizing Johnson County Visitors Bureau, said Friday went great.

"It’s incredible,” she said.Vendors and shoppers from across the country were stopping at booths when she rode along the route earlier Friday.

Benson and Selma were really bustling Friday. Almost the entire length of the Benson 301 route was packed with vendors, she said. Selma’s antique areas were also crowded.

The 301 Endless Yard Sale is patterned after the world’s longest yard sale that runs along U.S. 127 from Michigan to Alabama.